REVIEWSTheatre ReviewsTom Williams

The Taffetas

The Musical Journey Through The Fabulous Fifties

Conceived by Rick Lewistaffetaslogo

Directed & choreographed by Kevin Bellie

Music Direction by Peter Storms

Produced by Noble Fool Theatricals

Tuneful journey back to the pop songs a fun evening

I was a kid when most of the songs in Rick Lewis’ The Taffetas were pop chart favorites. My mother and older sister were glued to the TV to watch The Hit Parade and The Ed Sullivan show to heard such songs as: “Sh-Boom,” “Mr. Sandman” and like. My taste ran more for country & western and folk but I did get to hear these pop tunes.

This nostalgic musical revue features a girl-group, The Taffetas, out of Muncie, Indiana as they appear on a national network TV show in the 1950’s. The four sisters, Donna (Samantha Dubina); Cheryl (Meredith Freyre); Kaye (Danielle Pilsz); and Peggy (Courtney Rioux)—were small town folks naive and vulnerable trying to make the Ed Sullivan show to launch their singing careers. We are catapulted back to a time of large hair, angora sweaters, hula hoops and poodle skirts—were teens were innocents in matters of love and sex. No one left their houses with out being dressed up. Men wore ties, jackets and hats; women dresses, hats and gloves. This was a conservatively stifling time for younger folks.
The Taffetas is a song fest featuring four-part harmonies as well as duets and soles from the four talents. Each performer had their moments of cuteness with laughs and naiveté.

This revue contains over 40 tunes from the pop charts of the 50’s. There is the ‘Hurt Medley:’ “I’m Sorry,” “Rocochet,” “I Cried,” “Cry,” “Smile” with a cha-cha tune and a hooky little ditty—“Mockin’ Bird Hill,” thrown in. The four talents sport an amazing variety of singing styles and smart movements that keeps the show flowing nicely. There is innocent humor and a genuine likeableness to these four that wins us from the start. Many in the audience felt a moving nostalgia from some tunes. “Johnny Angel,” “Mr. Lee” and “Dedicated to the One I Love’ exuded enthusiasm for the audience. The stirring “Where the Boys Are” and the spunky “Little Darlin” were among the audience’s favorites. There is humor, audience participation and sweet asides in this fun, light-weight musical revue. Filled with pop bubble gum songs and hooky 50’s pop tunes, The Taffetas is a white female ‘doo-wop’ show so sweet and so enticing that audiences will enjoy it. It is a feel-good show nicely sung.
Recommended
Tom Williams

At Pheasant Run Resport, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles, IL, Call 630-584-6342, Tickets $28 -$39, Thursdays & Fridays at 8 pm, Saturdays at 5 & 8:30 pm, Sundays at 2 pm, Thursday matinees at 2 pm, Running time is 95 minutes with intermission.

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